The telecommunications industry regulator may issue two more licences for wireless Internet and data services. The announcement by Ms Etain Doyle yesterday follows legal proceedings that delayed the awarding of the first four such licences earlier this year. A spokeswoman for the regulator said that as part of the settlement of these proceedings, Ms Doyle had undertaken to carry out a review to see if more licences were needed.

Four companies won 10year licences to operate broadband networks last February including Esat Telecom, Formus Communications, Princes Holdings and Eircom. One of the unsuccessful applicants, Broadnet, challenged the awarding of a licence to Eircom and accused the regulator of bias. The case was settled out of court last May, with Ms Doyle agreeing to rerun the competition between Eircom and Broadnet and distribute the other three licences.